"constitutional syndrome"?

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From a medical abstract in Spanish. I've found KOG and Pubmed references to constitutional syndrome, but most seem to come from non-English language authors, mostly Spanish, so I'm not at all convinced. Could anyone supply me with a more common term? TIA

This syndrome was defined as a clinical picture characterized by the presence of asthenia, anorexia, and weight loss of at least 5% of body weight in the last six months, not associated with any other symptom or sign suggesting the diagnosis of an organ or system disease.

Thus, in order for the patient to truly have "constitutional syndrome" she could not have had any "local" symptoms related to the ovarian cyst. Now these "giant" cysts are so massive that it cannot be said that there are no "local" symptoms. There was abdominal distention and one can actually feel the mass. (The problem is understanding what is being felt, since a mass the size of a beach ball is sometimes difficult to delineate by virtue of its very size.)

In the context of the question, the author thus should have said "constitutional symptoms" or "systemic symptoms", but not "syndrome", which is a special case.

I could have used either suggestion, but Michael's explanatory addendum tipped the scale.

In fact I decided to describe the symptoms themselves - weight loss, weakness (asthenia) and anorexia - rather than use the term, although I included a note to the client indicating the term "constutional symptoms" as a valid alternative.

I really do appreciate the time you've taken to research this. Just to let you know, I have just posted an ES>EN question on the same term for further feedback. Nevertheless, I haven't ruled out any alternative yet and will come back to you on it. BTW, Sue, thanks for your notes on melena & assoc with/related to - nice feedback. :O) :O)

Asker: Hi MM and thanks for the feedback. I had in fact checked this reference too and noticed the author's name is Spanish, while the editor's name seems French. I'll keep your suggestion in mind though.

This syndrome was defined as a clinical picture characterized by the presence of asthenia, anorexia, and weight loss of at least 5% of body weight in the last six months, not associated with any other symptom or sign suggesting the diagnosis of an organ or system disease.

Thus, in order for the patient to truly have "constitutional syndrome" she could not have had any "local" symptoms related to the ovarian cyst. Now these "giant" cysts are so massive that it cannot be said that there are no "local" symptoms. There was abdominal distention and one can actually feel the mass. (The problem is understanding what is being felt, since a mass the size of a beach ball is sometimes difficult to delineate by virtue of its very size.)

In the context of the question, the author thus should have said "constitutional symptoms" or "systemic symptoms", but not "syndrome", which is a special case.

I could have used either suggestion, but Michael's explanatory addendum tipped the scale.

In fact I decided to describe the symptoms themselves - weight loss, weakness (asthenia) and anorexia - rather than use the term, although I included a note to the client indicating the term "constutional symptoms" as a valid alternative.